Modular design of vehicle exterior mirror assembly with forward facing accessory light or any other accessory

ABSTRACT

Modular design of a vehicle exterior mirror assembly containing multiple integrated attachment points that allow for the addition of accessory components such as a forward facing light, camera or any other accessories.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the option of adding a forward facing light or other accessory to the exterior mirror of any vehicle requiring exterior mirrors or any vehicle that can accept or be modified to accept exterior mirrors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicles are known as are the components that make up these vehicles including the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) exterior mirrors as well as aftermarket or 3^(rd) party supplied exterior mirrors and accessories. The present disclosure relates to vehicles. The present disclosure relates to vehicle exterior mirrors comprising accessory lights either in modular or complete assembly form.

The incorporation of an accessory light with a vehicle exterior mirror was conceived due to the “Inventor's” existing vehicle exterior mirror design Pat. D808,315 that is unique due to the (3) piece modular design. This exemplary design allowed for the unique addition of a forward facing accessory light to be mounted to existing mirrors without having to purchase a complete new exterior mirror and accessory light assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The modular vehicle exterior mirror design incorporates multiple accessory attachment points for mounting a forward facing accessory light such as a headlight, driving light and/or flood light, or any other type of accessory such as a camera.

While vehicle exterior mirrors and accessory lights are not new or unique, the design of the modular exterior vehicle mirror allowing for the mounting of a forward facing accessory light or any other type of accessory is unique and exemplary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: is a schematic drawing of a modular vehicle exterior mirror assembly that incorporates multiple attachment points from Design Pat. D808,315.

FIG. 2: is a schematic drawing of the mirror in FIG. 1 with the integrated modular headlight.

FIG. 3: is a plan view of the front and rear of the mirror mounting plate 4 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

FIG. 4: is a plan view of the front and rear of the modular mounting plate 5 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5: is a plan view of the front and rear of the modular mounting plate with integrated accessory light 6 in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings. While the present design disclosure was originally directed to side-by-side (SXS) or utility vehicle's (UTV), the features disclosed herein may have application to other types of land, air or water based vehicles. Additional subcategory vehicles may include all-terrain vehicles (ATV's), off-road race cars, motorcycles, watercraft, ultralights, snowmobiles, and golf carts to name a few.

FIG. 1 is an illustrative embodiment of the modular vehicle exterior mirror assembly 8. This embodiment represents the interaction between the (2) primary components: mirror mounting plate 4 and modular mounting plate 5. And the secondary components: fasteners 1, mirror retaining bezel 2, and mirror glass 3. And the accessory components: accessory mounting bracket 6 and light assembly 7.

Referring to FIG. 1, the mirror mounting plate 4 and modular mounting plate 5 contain integrated attachment points for securing accessories through the use of fasteners 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, the mirror mounting plate 4 (see FIG. 3) allows for the attachment of the mirror glass 3 and the mirror retaining bezel 2 on the rear side. And the modular mounting plate 5 and accessory mounting bracket 6 on the front side through the use of fasteners 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, the modular mounting plate 5 (see FIG. 4) allows for the attachment of the mirror mounting plate 4 on the rear side and additional accessories and or lights on the front side through the use of multiple attachment points.

Referring to FIG. 1, the attachment point fasteners may include threaded studs, threaded adapters, clearance holes and bolts or screws that thread into the mirror mounting plate 4 (see FIG. 3) and modular mounting plate 5 (see FIG. 4) or any other type of fastening device that allows the mirror retaining bezel 2, mirror glass 3, and accessory mounting bracket 6 to connect to the mirror mounting plate 4 and modular mounting plate 5.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative embodiment of the complete vehicle exterior mirror assembly that incorporates the modular mounting plate with integrated accessory light 6 (see FIG. 5). The only difference between FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is the modular mounting plate with integrated accessory light 6, the corresponding electrical wiring for accessory light 7 and the decorative bezel plate 5.

Referring to FIG. 2, the accessory light is shown as a single unit integrated into the module mounting plate 6 (FIG. 1).

Referring to FIG. 2, the electrical wiring for accessory light 7 consists of wiring to connect to a power source within the vehicle.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative embodiment of the mirror mounting plate 4 found in both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, the front view shows numerous attachment points for accessories and the other mirror assembly components.

Referring to FIG. 3, the rear view shows numerous attachment points for the mirror retaining bezel 2 from FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative embodiment of the modular mounting plate 5 found in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 4, the front view shows (2) circular attachment points for mounting accessories such as a light, camera or any other accessory.

Referring to FIG. 4, the rear view shows multiple attachment points for connecting the modular mounting plate 5 in FIG. 1 to the mirror mounting plate 4 in both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative embodiment of the modular mounting plate with integrated accessory light 6 found in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 5, the front view shows the integrated forward facing light.

Referring to FIG. 5, the rear view shows multiple attachment points for connecting the modular mounting plate with integrated accessory light 6 in FIG. 2 to the mirror mounting plate 4 in FIG. 2.

While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design it may be further enhanced within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Additionally, this application is intended to cover such modifications from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention exists. 

The exemplary embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A modular vehicle exterior mirror assembly that incorporates multiple attachment points for mounting accessories such as a forward facing accessory light, camera or any other type of accessory component.
 2. The vehicle of claim 1, refers to any type of land, air or water based vehicle that is either manufactured with exterior mirrors or a vehicle that may be modified to accept exterior mirrors.
 3. The modular reference of claim 1, refers to the flexibility of the design of the mirror assembly allowing for multiple attachments of additional components and or accessories.
 4. The mirror assembly of claim 1, typically comprises of a flat or convex rearward facing exterior mirror, a removable mirror retaining bezel, a mirror mounting plate with integrated attachment points for accessories, an accessory mounting bracket or a decorative bezel, a modular mounting plate or a modular mounting plate with an integrated accessory light, or a 3^(rd) party supplied accessory light.
 5. The mirror of claim 4, is designed to be removable from the mirror mounting plate and or replaceable should the mirror become damaged.
 6. The mirror retaining bezel of claim 4, is designed to be easily removed by loosening and removing the fasteners that secure the bezel to the mirror mounting plate.
 7. The mirror mounting plate of claim 4, comprises of a sturdy housing designed to accept a mirror on the rear of the housing.
 8. The mirror mounting plate of claim 4, also comprises of multiple attachment points on the front of the housing to facilitate the mounting of the modular mounting plate including the accessory mounting bracket and any other accessory components.
 9. The accessory components of claim 8, may comprise of a forward facing accessory light a camera or any other accessory component.
 10. The accessory mounting bracket of claim 4, is designed to accept a 3^(rd) party supplied accessory light or other accessory. This bracket connects to the mirror mounting plate or the modular mounting plate using multiple fasteners integrated into either of the mounting plates.
 11. The decorative bezel of claim 4, connects to the mirror mounting plate using multiple fasteners integrated into the mirror mounting plate. This bezel may or may not be used when the accessory mounting bracket is installed.
 12. The modular mounting plate of claim 4, comprises of a sturdy housing with multiple integrated attachment points as well as a threaded stud that facilitates the connection of the complete modular mirror assembly to the vehicle.
 13. The multiple integrated attachment points of claim 12, allow for the rear of the modular mounting plate to connect to the mirror mounting plate in claim 4 and allow for the front of the modular mounting plate to accept brackets and accessory components.
 14. The attachment points of claims 8 and 12, comprise of multiple threaded studs, threaded adapters, clearance holes, and or bolts or screws that tread into the modular mounting plate to facilitate the mounting of accessories and or components that comprise the entire mirror assembly.
 15. The accessory components of claim 13, may comprise of a forward facing accessory light and may also comprise of a camera or any other type of accessory component.
 16. The forward facing accessory light of claim 1, refers to any type of forward facing light such as headlight, fog light, driving light, pencil beam headlight or any other type of light. Forward refers to the primary direction of vehicle travel. The forward definition refers to any lighting device that illuminates from 90 degrees to the left and right of the direction of vehicle travel. 